Alpine has announced a driver change, confirming that Franco Colapinto will step in to replace Jack Doohan for the next five races. This change will begin at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
The French Formula 1 team described this move, announced on Wednesday, as a “rotation” of the driver in their second car alongside Pierre Gasly. Colapinto`s performance and position will be assessed after these five events, specifically before the British Grand Prix in July, leaving open the possibility of Doohan`s return later in the season.
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore explained the reasoning behind this decision. He stated that after reviewing the initial races of the season, the team felt it was necessary to “rotate” the lineup. Briatore highlighted the importance of a comprehensive and fair assessment of drivers for the upcoming 2026 season and mentioned wanting to “try something different” for the next five races given the current competitive landscape and the team`s improved car. He also affirmed that Alpine continues to support Jack Doohan, acknowledging his professional conduct in his role so far.
Speculation regarding Doohan`s place had increased since Alpine signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver in January. The Argentine driver previously impressed while standing in for Logan Sargeant at Williams for nine races last year, gaining significant attention. He was loaned to Alpine by Williams for the current season with the expectation that he would gain further competitive racing experience.
Franco Colapinto expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided by the team. He stated his commitment to working hard with Alpine to prepare for the demanding upcoming races, including an intense triple-header. Colapinto mentioned staying prepared through the team`s testing programme and simulator work at Enstone and vowed to get up to speed quickly and deliver his best results alongside Pierre Gasly.
Jack Doohan`s performance in the initial five races this year proved challenging. He experienced several incidents and struggled to consistently match the qualifying pace and race results of his teammate, Pierre Gasly.
In response to the news, Jack Doohan described the decision as “tough,” as his natural desire is to be racing as a professional driver. However, he expressed pride in achieving his goal of becoming a Formula 1 driver and thanked the team for their support. Doohan affirmed his appreciation for the team`s trust and commitment to their long-term goals, stating he would continue to give his maximum effort to help achieve them, while also focusing on his personal aspirations.
This driver change follows other recent significant shifts within Alpine, including the immediate resignation of team principal Oliver Oakes on Tuesday, with Flavio Briatore taking over his responsibilities. Notably, Oakes had indicated as recently as the Friday of the Miami Grand Prix weekend that the plan was for Doohan to race in the next round at Imola.
